Özersay on Property Issue: Appointing a Guardian While Owner Still Holds Rights Is a Violation

Speaking at a well-attended conference in Famagusta titled “Recent Developments and Arrests Concerning the Property Issue,” Özersay warned that the arrests mark a dangerous precedent and must be addressed as a broader political issue, not merely a legal one.

“We Must Shed the Guilt Complex”

Özersay emphasized that the property issue is being weaponized as a political tool. “As a society, we must urgently shed this guilt complex regarding property,” he said, arguing that the Greek Cypriot side has also committed systematic rights violations for decades.

He criticized the policy of the Greek Cypriot administration toward Turkish-owned properties, stating, “They didn’t issue title deeds, but effectively suspended all the rights of the actual owners. Through a guardianship system, they have committed a blatant violation of property rights.”

Özersay pointed out that while Greek Cypriots are initiating arrests over “unauthorized transactions” related to properties in the north, Turkish properties in the south have been subjected to similar unauthorized use for years without any legal consequences.

“Parliament Must Issue a Unified Response”

Calling for an emergency session of the Republic’s Assembly, Özersay urged all political parties to jointly adopt a resolution condemning the recent developments. “These developments will bring crossings to a halt and will seriously impact relations between the two sides. Parliament must speak with a unified voice,” he said.

International Precedents: Beneš Decrees and Helms-Burton Act

Drawing from international examples, Özersay highlighted the Beneš Decrees in the Czech Republic and the U.S. Helms-Burton Act as political solutions to similar property crises. “The European Union accepted the Beneš arrangements without dispute, even though they involved millions of properties. Meanwhile, despite the existence of an ECHR-approved compensation mechanism in the TRNC, the EU remains silent. This double standard must be exposed,” he stated.

Proposed Measures

Özersay laid out specific recommendations:

• A special emergency and, if necessary, confidential session of the Assembly should be held on the property and arrest issues.

• Following the session, a parliamentary resolution should be adopted and communicated to the international community to clearly express the unacceptability of the recent developments.

• A joint letter signed by the leaders of all political parties inside and outside parliament should be sent to the UN, EU, and Council of Europe.

• Foreign ambassadors stationed in the south should be invited to the TRNC, and a unified stance should be presented with the participation of all political leaders.

Further Public Briefings to Follow

The event was organized by the People’s Party’s Famagusta District Office, which announced that a similar conference will be held in Nicosia next week. In her opening remarks, District Chair Duygu Uzun emphasized the public’s growing concern over the property issue and underscored the importance of continuing these awareness-raising events.